The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will not shift ground from its earlier position as regards the All Progressives Congress, APC Yobe North Senatorial District primary election in spite of a counter affidavit purportedly filed in the Federal High Court, Damaturu Judicial Division.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement, Thursday said, “Notwithstanding the matter in Court and without prejudice to the consideration or likely outcome of the case in court, the Commission reiterates its earlier position that it stands by the report of its monitoring team and it was on the basis of that report that the Commission did not publish the name and personal particulars of any candidate for the Yobe North Senatorial District.
“Consequently, the Commission will review its quality assurance protocols, including the preview by appropriate ranking Officials of all processes filed on its behalf to ascertain their correctness in all material particulars with all reports and all information at its disposal before their presentation so that a situation like this is not repeated.
“The Commission has also instructed the external counsel briefed to handle this matter to reflect the correct position, which aligns with the report submitted by our Monitoring Team.”
Daily Champion reported that while Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, the incumbent senator representing Yobe North district, was battling for the APC presidential ticket, Bashir Machina was declared the winner of the primary election.
However, reports had it that the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Yobe North Senatorial District has replaced the name of Bashir Machina with that of Lawan.
Bashir Machina had in reaction, insisted that he still remains the substantial candidate of the APC in the Senatorial district to the 2023 elections.